Cuvieronius

Mastotherium hyodon

Resurrected on:

13 jan. 2020

Genus information

With its spiral-shaped tusks, Cuvieronius was a notable species of elephant during the Pliocene and Holocene period of, mainly, South America. The species evolved in the southern part of North America and migrated over the land bridge to South America during the Great American Interchange, when many species from both continents spread across the other continent. Cuvieronius was one of just two species of elephant that ever lived in South America. The species went extinct about 11.000 years ago and scientists believe that early human hunting was the main reason for its downfall.

Family:

Distribution:

Epoch:

Gomphotheriidae

North and South America

Pliocene to Holocene

Species information

The type species of Cuvieronius isn’t actually a species of Cuvieronius, but Mastotherium. Paleontologist Cuvier described the species in 1824, but was unaware that Fischer, another Paleontologist, already classified the species as Mastotherium in 1814. Only in 2011, the type species was officially stated Mastotherium hyodon, but was kept under the genus of Cuvieronius.

Species:

Paleontologist:

Distribution:

Epoch:

Mastotherium hyodon

Fischer, 1814

North and South America

Pliocene to Holocene

Length:

Height:

Weight:

5.0 m

2.7 m

3.500 kg

Reference:

Lucas, S. G. (2008). Taxonomic nomenclature of Cuvieronius and Haplomastodon, proboscideans from the Plio-Pleistocene of the New World. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 44, 409-415.